Screenshot of the trailer for Staatsoper Wien’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Luisa Miller by There Stands the Glass.
The Top Ten Albums of February 2026
1. Jill Scott- To Whom This May Concern
My review.
2. James Brandon Lewis and the Messthetics- Deface the Currency
Physical graffiti.
3. Bill Frisell- In My Dreams
Where the deer and the antelope play.
4. Charlie XCX- Wuthering Heights
Smoldering art-pop.
5. Tomeka Reid- dance! skip! hop!
With Mary Halvorson, Jason Roebke and Tomas Fujiwara.
6. Mandy, Indiana- Urgh
Yikes.
7. Melissa Aldana- Filin
My review.
8. Pat Metheny- Side-Eye III+
Everything at once.
9. Tigran Hamasyan- Manifeste
My review.
10. J. Cole- The Fall-Off
Farewell.
The Top Three Reissues of February 2026
1. Art Pepper- Everything Happens to Me: 1959, Live at the Cellar
My review.
2. Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical- Galaxia Tropical
Peruvian cumbia from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
3. Alexander Gibson- Opening the Doors
A seven-hour survey of the late Scottish conductor’s work.
The Top Ten Songs of February 2026
1. Jorge Drexler- "Toco madera"
Sparkling MPB #1.
2. Fabiano do Nascimento and Vittor Santos Orchestra- “O Tempo (Foi O Meu Mestre)”
Sparkling MPB #2.
3. svn4evr- "veil"
Incredulous gospel.
4. Adrian Younge- “Portschute”
My new theme song.
5. LaVelle- "Suga"
Sweet soul music.
6. Ella Mai- "First Day"
Boo’d up.
7. xaviersobased- “Party at My Place”
Don’t bother knocking.
8. Billy Woods featuring Fatboi Sharif- “Funny Games”
Funny, not funny..
9. Willow featuring Kamasi Washington- "Play"
Recess.
10. The Womack Sisters- “You Went Away Too Long”
Family tradition.
The Top Ten Performances of February 2026
1. Joyce DiDonato and Time For Three at the Folly Theater
My review.
2. Isaac Cates & Ordained at Village Presbyterian Church
My Instagram clip.
3. UMKC Conservatory’s “Carmen” at White Theater
My review.
4. Joshua Redman Quartet at the Folly Theater
My review.
5. Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s “Porgy and Bess” at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
My Instagram snapshot.
6. KC Winter Jazzfest at Cap Gun Studios
My review.
7. Jericho Brown at Arrupe Auditorium
My Instagram snapshot.
8. Robert Stubbs at Country Club Christian Church
My Instagram clip.
9. Matt Otto, Aaron Sizemore, Ben Tervort and Mike Warren at the Music House
My Instagram clip.
10. The International Center for Music at Asbury Methodist Church
My Instagram clip.
The previous monthly recap is here.